Printer

Stephen McMillan

Stephen McMillan, born in 1949 in Berkeley, California, is an American printmaker known for his masterful aquatint etchings that explore the quiet presence of natural landscapes. Raised with expansive views of the San Francisco Bay, McMillan developed an early and enduring connection to the natural world, which has remained central to his artistic practice.

Working primarily in aquatint etching, McMillan draws freehand from photographs he takes during extended explorations of wilderness areas, particularly in California and Washington. His contemplative approach is similar with other artists on this site such as Micah Schwaberow.

Aquatint etching is demanding. Stephen’s prints appear photographic, but actually they are the result of careful drawing with brushes into the acid-grounds of multiple copper plates. Coordinating the interaction of the various color plates (often 3 or 4 separate plates) is a task Stephen works out in his imagination. Of the work Stephen says “part of being an artist is being a magician.”

McMillan earned his B.F.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1975, after first being introduced to etching in 1969. He later studied sculpture at Hornsey College of Art in London

Throughout his career, McMillan has remained deeply involved in the printmaking community. He worked at the Graphic Arts Workshop in San Francisco from 1975 to 1979 and later served as an artist-in-residence at the Kala Art Institute in Berkeley from 1979 to 1992, where he taught printmaking and authored technical articles on aquatint etching.

McMillan’s work is held in numerous public and private collections, reflecting a sustained contribution to contemporary American printmaking. His images offer a measured, attentive vision of the landscape, inviting viewers into moments of quiet observation and reflection.

Public Collections Featuring Works by Stephen McMillan

Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, California
Features pieces like Monterey Cypress, reflecting McMillan’s connection to Californian landscapes.

Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York
Houses The Slot #8 (1983), an aquatint etching that exemplifies McMillan’s precision and atmospheric depth. Brooklyn Museum+1missiongalleryart.com+1

Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon
Includes McMillan’s works in its collection, highlighting his contributions to contemporary printmaking.

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